Container with multiple covers

ABSTRACT

A storage container comprised of a container bottom, and with multiple sealable covers, configured to connect the covers to the container bottom in both open and closed arrangements, and where the covers will link to link or seal to the container, and to each other. The containers may be proportioned to stack or nest into other container bottoms, as well allow open covers to rest vertically alongside the container without significantly contacting the surface the container is resting on.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/601,520 Filed Feb. 21, 2012 by the present inventor.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to sealable containers, with smaller sizes typically used for storing food, and larger sizes such as used for storing items like clothing. Commonly used containers are available from such brand names as Tupperware', Rubbermaid' or Glad' reusable storage containers. These containers are generally designed for single or multiple uses, with individual, separate covers that are pressed onto the container, creating a water tight seal. Generally, these containers can stack upon one another. A common problem in many households, is how to organize the various covers of the empty containers, because when you remove the cover, it is separate of the container. This allows covers to become lost, and finding the right cover for the right container can prove to be a daunting task. Manufacturers of these containers have long sought a clever means to keep the right sized cover close to the right sized container. Even the best organization in an individual's cabinet, can still leave missing covers, such as in a dishwasher or a spouse's lunch box. Over time, there is usually a mismatched mess of containers and ill-fitting covers that needs to be replaced.

This invention serves to solve this issue in a novel way, by utilizing multiple covers which are attached to and hinge from the container, thus keeping the covers attached to the container at all times while the covers are open or closed. The covers are designed to seal to the container, and also to seal to one another, whereby 2 or more smaller covers can be joined into 1 larger cover.

Additionally, the containers may be made in a proportion which allows the open covers to rest vertically alongside the container while open, thus an open container would take up no more space on a counter with the covers open as it did with the covers closed.

The result is a nestable, stackable, easy to manufacture and easy to maintain storage container system which ends the issue of lost covers.

1. Description of Prior Art and Related Applications

U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,327 utilized a singular cover with a hinge in the center. This is designed to allow one half of the cover to be opened while the other half is closed. However this arrangement does not provide for substantial air or liquid sealing, it does not utilize two separate covers where each is hinged to the container. This patent utilizes one cover, which has two parts joined together by a hinge mechanism (thus you cannot separate the two parts). It is essentially an individual folding cover, of where there are several designs.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,994 utilizes a single cover that is elastic and stretchable, but does not connect the cover to the container such that when the container is open the cover is still connected to the container. This patent also does not provide for two or more covers, nor does it connect or tether the cover to the container permanently.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,918 utilizes a single captive cover attached to the storage container. However, this arrangement utilizes one cover only, meaning when opened, the size of the container and the size of the opened cover next to it will be twice the size of the container itself. In other words, if the container is 12″×12″ square, and the cover is fully opened and connected to the container, the opened cover and the container side by side will be 12″×24″. This arrangement also does not mention multiple covers, nor does it mention any sealing element to seal multiple covers to one another.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,907 utilizes a singular cover with a central hinge element, to allow the cover to fold in half and be stored within the container when not in use. This invention depicts numerous arrangements of the foldable covers, but these covers essentially constitute a “hinge” in the center, whereas the cover is still one cover. The single cover merely has a flexible hinge arrangement allowing it to be folded and placed inside the container. It depicts a sealing mechanism from the cover to the container, in the form of an elastic, removable gasket that stretches around the perimeter of the singular cover. This design does not tether the cover to the container.

US2008 0251 526 (Patent Application) uses a small cover, mounted to and within the surface area of an individual, primary cover (see FIG. 2 of this patent) which is hinged to the container below. The small cover functions as a window inside the larger cover, and the small cover is not connected to nor seals to the container itself, it only seals to the primary cover.

US 2008 0190951 (Patent Application) again shows a singular cover with a hinge element in the center, and able to connect to a container below. It does not show two separate covers, connected to the container, and it does not depict any sealing arrangement to join the separate covers together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, I propose a storage container that utilizes multiple covers, each connected to the container in both open and closed positions by a hinge or flexible element like a tab, which multiple covers seal to each other, and also seal to the container. Utilizing multiple covers with a sealing mechanism to join them together, allows the covers to be smaller in size. For example, a 12″wide×12″long container can be covered by two (2) covers that are approximately 6″ wide×12″ long each. If the container base is at least 6″ deep, the geometry will allow the covers when open to rest alongside the container and take up little to no additional space when the covers are open. Also, attaching the covers to the container with a living hinge or flexible tab keeps the lids connected with the container, which ensures the lids are never lost, and are always the right size! Making the circumference of the bottom of the container smaller that the circumference of the top allows nesting of the containers within each other, which provides for ease of storage for multiple containers with their covers. These containers can be made circular, square, or any number of different geometric shapes and sizes. It is possible to mold the container and the lids from plastic or rubber with a flexible hinge element in a single manufacturing process, so the containers can be made inexpensively. Also, it is possible to make the containers out more rigid resins or glass, and make the lids of a similar or alternate material, such as a glass container bottom with rubber tops, where the tops are connected to the sides of the glass container. The containers can also be made of cellulose such as paper, or various foams or bio plastics to make disposable versions in expensively.

There are numerous ways and nuances to link the covers to each other, and link them to the container. Three different types of linking/sealing mechanisms are shown in this application, each with various embodiments. One is a compression arrangement where the two covers press into one another in the center to create a seal, where the opposing sides press against the perimeter edge seal of the container.

Another is a tension arrangement where the two covers essentially hook together in the center, and the edge seal is pulled from one side to the other to form a tight seal and maintain tension in the center “hooked” area. This can utilize a protrusion and recess type of perimeter link/seal, or a simple overlapping perimeter link/seal.

Another method to seal a cover to another cover is to utilize an elongated pocket type arrangement where one element snugly fits into the other element, such as a protrusion and recess (a male and female). In this arrangement the female portion of the pocket will compress or clamp down on the male portion, without additional need for tension or compression forces from the surface of the cover.

A preferred embodiment is an arrangement where the seal can be made above the surface plane of the cover, allowing human fingers to access the elongated seal and pinching the two elements of the seal together above the lid.

Accordingly, there are any number of configurations and types of sealing or linking elements which can be utilized to join the covers to the container, and join one cover to another cover.

The protrusions do not need to be formed or rolled, they may be solid or formed protrusions, which mate to recesses to create a link.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

-   -   (1) To provide a container with covers that link or seal to         close it     -   (2) To provide a container whose covers are attached to it with         a flexible member or hinge element, thus eliminating the issue         of losing the covers and rendering the container unable to         close.     -   (3) To provide containers who stack efficiently for storage.     -   (4) To provide containers whose covers (when open), can rest         vertically alongside the container so that the open container         takes up little more space than when the covers are closed.     -   (5) To provide a process where a container and its lids can be         created at the same time in a manufacturing process from the         same material, which ends any management of counting, storing,         shipping and selling same quantities of lids with the same         quantities of containers, as they are always connected together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In the drawing figures, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a container with both covers in the closed position. There are raised elements in the center of each lid to form a flat surface in the same plane as the top of the cover to cover link element, so that other containers may rest upon a flat surface. These raised elements also serve to increase the rigidity of the lid.

FIG. 2 depicts this same isometric view in cutaway section, exposing the cover to cover link element.

FIG. 3 depicts a blow up of the transition from the perimeter cover to container links, to the cover to cover link. It also shows where one perimeter cover to container link may overlap another perimeter cover to container link.

FIG. 4 depicts this same intersection in section view, showing the plane of the raised element of an individual lid in the same plane as the top of the cover to cover linking element, while the plane of the top of the perimeter cover to container link is higher, thus creating a perimeter ridge to capture the edge of a container stacked on top of this container with the covers closed.

FIG. 5 depicts and underside version of the cover to cover transition, showing how the cover to cover transition creates a continuous connection recess for the container edge condition to mate to.

FIG. 6 depicts the underside of two covers connected together, without the flexible tabs or hinge elements shown for clarity.

FIG. 7 depicts a section of the cover to container perimeter link, with the raised element shown in a lower plane than the perimeter link to create a perimeter ridge to capture other containers stacked above.

FIG. 8 shows section of a container where the central linking elements are pushed together with compression forces, where the linking element is above the plane of the cover which allows a user to pinch the covers closed from the top to seal them together.

FIG. 9 shows an elevation of a container with multiple lids open and resting alongside the container bottom. It also shows a capture element in the form of a protrusion from the container sides, which can mate with a recess in the top of a lid to hold the open cover to the side of the container.

FIG. 10 shows a multiple cover container with the covers closed. This arrangement uses two covers that “hook” together, with tension pulling them to opposite ends of the container. These covers are also connected to the container via a flexible tab element, to ensure that the right cover is always with the right container.

FIG. 11 depicts this same multiple cover container in FIG. 10, in perspective view with a section cut through it. This shows the perimeter edge of the covers as a protrusion of the container edge fitting into a recess of the cover edge, thus sealing around the edge of the container. The elongated hook configuration of the multiple covers pulls on one another as the covers are pulled over the edge of the container.

FIG. 12 depicts a similar “hook” type center sealing element with the covers closed. In the perimeter cover to container link the edge of the cover simply overlaps the sides of the container with tension creating the link or seal.

FIG. 13 shows this same “hook” type of central sealing in cut way, depicting the central link element, and showing the perimeter edges of the covers sealing around the container. In this figure the edge seal of the cover doesn't sandwich over both sides of the container edge as is FIGS. 10 and 11, rather, there is simply an edge that drops down around the outside edge of the container with tension of the covers pulling it towards the center of the container to seal it.

FIG. 14 depicts the container depicted in FIG. 11 in full section view, showing the cover capture of the edge of the container, and the flexible elements/hinges connecting the covers to the container. Here the tension forces are shown pulling in opposite directions, thereby pulling the elongated hook elements together.

FIG. 15 depicts the container embodiment of FIG. 13 in section view, showing the elongated “hook” sealing element in the center and the overlapping cover arrangement over the edges of the container.

FIG. 16 depicts an elongated hooked arrangement in a manner that keeps the top of the cover flat to ease stacking of closed containers.

FIG. 17 depicts the overlapping perimeter cover edge seal of FIGS. 10, 11, and 14 in more detail, where the two cover edge seals overlap each other at the container edge.

FIG. 18 depicts the overlapping perimeter edge seals in side elevation, showing the smaller male part of one cover seal fitting inside the larger female part of the other cover edge seal.

FIG. 19 a depicts a container in operation with the cover to cover hook seal arrangement partially open.

FIG. 19 b depicts a container in operation with the cover to cover hook seal arrangement being joined together in the center and pulling to the opposite side.

FIG. 19 c depicts a container in operation with the cover to cover hook seal arrangement is joined in tension, and whose edge seal is pressed over the container edge.

FIG. 20 depicts an embodiment of a container with a protrusion and recess sealing configuration in a perspective view, showing the multiple covers closed, and the flexible elements connecting the covers to the container. There is a seal formed between the covers and the container around the perimeter, and central sealing in the center where the two covers meet.

FIG. 21 depicts this same embodiment of the container with the multiple covers partially open. This shows the overlapping seal in the center of the container.

FIG. 22 depicts this same embodiment of the container with the covers fully open to either side of the container, allowing them to rest vertically and neatly on either side, and therefore taking up minimal additional space on the surface (i.e. a table or counter) the container is placed on.

FIG. 23 shows a section through the container in perspective view, showing the overlapping covers closed, with the pocket seal in essentially the middle of the container.

FIG. 24 shows a section of the container, depicting overlapping covers and the hinge/tethered elements on either the side. This Figure also shows raised sections of the lid surface, to create a flat plane for another container to stack on top when this container is closed.

FIG. 25 a depicts the locking seal arrangement with the female portion over the male portion.

FIG. 25 b depicts the elongated protrusion and recess seal arrangement with the recess portion being pressed over the protrusion portion and widening the opening in the recess portion.

FIG. 25 c depicts the locking seal arrangement with the recess portion being pressed fully over the protrusion portion showing the opening in the recess portion closing over the protrusion portion.

FIG. 26 shows multiple containers in elevation view, showing their nesting capability. Multiple containers can be stacked together with covers attached and opened, utilizing a storage area only slightly larger than the containers themselves.

FIG. 27 shows a container in section view, with flexible gasket elements in various locations such as the cover to container edge location, or cover to cover location.

FIG. 28 shows an alternate embodiment of the covers where the recess and protrusion seal at the perimeter is reversed, with the recessed element of the container curving downwards in lieu of upwards. The covers seal into the container by pushing down into them, in lieu of over them. This alternate embodiment also shows at least one latching device which can pull from one cover to an attachment element in the other cover, thus locking the two covers together besides the elongated sealing element.

DRAWINGS REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Container 2 Container perimeter link/seal element 3 Cover surface bottom plane 4 Cover to container flexible member connection 5 Protrusion and recess link/seal element around perimeter of container 6 Central cover to cover protrusion and recess link/seal element 7 Locking cover to cover link/seal layout 8 Compression type cover to cover link/seal layout 9 Reversed cover to cover link/seal layout 10 Reversed perimeter link/seal layout 11 Tension type cover to cover link/seal layout with elongate hook element 12 Cover to container edge link/seal 13 Overlap configuration of cover to container edge link/seal 14 Hook type cover to cover link/seal 15 Cover to cover overlap edge link/seal recess to receive protrusion element 16 Beveled edge of cover to cover link/seal connection 17 Clamping pull tab link/seal assembly 18 Container edge 19 Pull Tab to release clamping elongated link/seal 20 Recess element at protrusion and recess type link/seal 21 Protrusion element of protrusion and recess type link/seal 22 Protrusion element at cover to cover overlap connection 23 Male cover to cover overlap link/seal element 24 Female cover to cover overlap link/seal element 25 Cover protrusion raised plane 26 Recess at edge of cover to receive the edge of the container. 28 Tension forces pulling cover elements together 29 Compression forces pushing cover elements together 30 Latching element 31 Latching receptacle 32 Container protrusion attachment element 33 Cover recess to link to container protrusion attachment element 34 Flexible gasket element 35 Overlapping cover to cover link/seal at perimeter 36 Part A of a two part cover to cover compressive link/seal arrangement 37 Part B of a two part cover to cover compressive link/seal arrangement 38 Living hinge element 39 Plane of the top of the perimeter cover to container link

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a container 1 with both covers 36 and 37 in the closed position. There are raised elements 25 in the center of each cover 3 which form a flat surface in the same plane as the top of the cover to cover link element 8, so that other containers may rest upon a flat plane when stacked on a closed container. These raised elements 25 also serve to increase the rigidity of the cover 3. Flexible connection members connect covers 3 to the container 1. The perimeter seal element of the covers 5 overlap one another at the center area where they meet 35.

FIG. 2 depicts this same isometric view of FIG. 1 in cutaway section, exposing the cover to cover link element 8 where two lids 36 and 37 meet in the approximate center of the container 1. Raised elements 25 in the covers 3 create a flat plane across the top of the container with both lids closed. Also visible is the formed edge of the container which forms a protrusion 21 designed to mate to the lid recess 20. There is also a section where the perimeters of the two lids overlap 35.

FIG. 3 depicts a blow up of the transition from the perimeter cover to container link/seal, to the cover to cover link seal. It also shows where one perimeter cover 37 links to another cover 36, and where the perimeter link/seals from covers to container overlap one another 35.

FIG. 4 depicts this same intersection of multiple lids in section view, showing the plane of the raised element 25 of one individual lid 37 in the same plane as the top of the cover to cover linking element 8, while the plane of the top of the perimeter cover to container link 39 is higher, thus creating a perimeter ridge to capture the edge of another container stacked on top of this container with the covers closed.

FIG. 5 depicts an underside viewpoint of the cover 36 to cover 37 transition, showing how the cover to cover transition creates a continuous connection recess 20 for the container edge condition to mate to. The raised element 25 is inverted in this view, and the bottom plane of the lid surface 3 is inverted. The overlapping section of the cover to cover intersection over the perimeter container seal is shown 35.

FIG. 6 depicts the underside of two covers 36 and 37 connected together, without the flexible tabs or hinge elements shown for clarity. The recess 20 is continuous around the perimeter, and the raised element 25 is shown inverted.

FIG. 7 depicts a section of the cover to container perimeter link, with the raised element 25 shown in a lower plane than the perimeter link 39 to create a perimeter ridge to capture other containers stacked above. Here the container edge protrusion 21 is shown mating to the container edge recess 20.

FIG. 8 shows a container 1 where the central cover to cover sealing element 8 is a working in compression with the compression forces 29 shown. In this figure the recess portion 20 of the cover to cover seal overlaps the protrusion portion 21 essentially parallel to the orientation of the cover 3. The arrangement of the protrusion 21 and recess 20 elements of the cover to cover link 8 allows the user to pinch the two together for a tight seal because both sides of the seal are above the covers 3 and accessible.

FIG. 9 shows an elevation of a container 1 with multiple covers 3 open and resting alongside the container bottom. It also shows a capture element in the form of a protrusion 32 from the container sides, which can mate with a recess 33 in the top of a lid, to hold the open covers to the sides of the container for a neat appearance.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a round container 1 with the covers 3 closed and hooked together 11. These covers 3 are also connected via a flexible member 4 to the container 1, to ensure that the right covers 3 are always with the right container. This figure also shows the cover to cover seal 11, and cover to container edge seal 12.

FIG. 11 depicts this same multiple cover 3 container 1 as in FIG. 10, in perspective view with a section cut through it. This shows the perimeter edge of the covers 3 sealing around the edge of the container 1, and the hook configuration 11 of the multiple covers pulling on one another with tension forces as the covers are pulled over the outside edge 18 of the container 1. In this embodiment the edge 12 of the cover 3 seals on the container 1 edge 18 by compressing over it. The overlap of the container edges where they join together is shown in more detail in FIGS. 17 and 18.

FIG. 12 depicts a similar elongated “hook” type cover to cover sealing element 13, with a cover 3 that simply overlaps the sides of the container 1.

FIG. 13 shows a similar elongated “hook” type of cover to cover seal in perspective section, depicting the hooking element 14, and showing the perimeter edges of the covers 13 overlapping over and sealing around the edge of the container 18. In this figure the edge seal 13 of the cover doesn't sandwich over both sides of the container edge as is FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, rather, there is simply an edge that drops down around the outside edge of the container 18. As the two lids pull against each other in tension to create a seal at the hooked area 14, the outside perimeter of the lids also pull in tension towards the center and a seal is created at the overlapped area 13.

FIG. 14 depicts the container 1 depicted in FIG. 11 in elevation section view, showing the cover edge seal 12 over the edge of the container 1, and the flexible connection elements 4 connecting the covers 3 to the container 1. This also shows the hook type seal of the cover to cover seal 11 working in tension forces 28.

FIG. 15 depicts the embodiment of FIG. 12 in elevation section view, showing an elongated hook type cover to cover seal 14 in the center and the overlapping cover arrangement 13 over the edges of the container 1.

FIG. 16 depicts an embodiment that features a hooked arrangement cover to cover seal 14, in a configuration that keeps the top of the cover 3 flat to ease stacking of closed containers.

FIG. 17 depicts the overlapping perimeter edge seal of FIGS. 10, 11, and 14 in more detail, where the two cover edge recesses 17 overlap each other to join together over the container edge protrusion. The edges are joined by beveling the leading edge 16 to allow the edge to compress tightly over the container edge without creating an open seam. There is a recess 15 in the female portion of the cover 24 which accepts a protrusion 22 on the male section 23 to lock into place holding the two sections together in compression which aids preventing the overlapping sections from pulling apart in tension.

FIG. 18 depicts the same overlapping seal 12 as in the FIG. 17 in side elevation, showing the smaller male element 23 of one cover seal fitting inside the larger female 24 element of the other cover edge seal. The bevel on the edge of the male part 16 helps create a tight seal at the join and prevent leaks. In this elevation you can see the line of the edge of the cover 18 running through the joined edge seals, and the hook arrangement 11 of the central portions of the covers 3.

FIG. 19 a depicts a container with the cover to cover hook seal 11 arrangement partially open. In this figure you can see the open cover 3 resting substantially to the side of the container 1, with the flexible connection element 4 attaching the cover to the container. The arrow depicts the motion of closing this cover over the container.

FIG. 19 b depicts a container 1 with the cover to cover hook seal 11 arrangement being joined together in the center. Here you can see the motion of hooking one cover 3 into the other cover 3 at the hook seal location 11, and then pulling the cover in an opposing direction to align over the perimeter edge seal over the opposing container perimeter edge.

FIG. 19 c depicts a container 1 with the cover to cover hook seal 11 arrangement being pressed down over the opposing container edge seal. This motion of pulling over and down fully joins one cover to the other by pulling tension on the hook seal 11, and it joins the now joined covers 3 to the container 1.

FIG. 20 depicts an embodiment of the container 1 in a perspective view, showing the multiple covers 3 closed, and the flexible connection elements 4 connecting the covers to the container. There is a cover link/seal around the perimeter 5 to the container 1, and a cover to cover link/seal 6 in the approximate center of the width of the container.

FIG. 21 depicts this same embodiment of the container 1 with the multiple covers 3 partially open. The perimeter sealing protrusion element of the container 2 is shown, as well as the perimeter sealing recess element of the covers 5 which fits over the protrusion portion 2. This figure shows the cover to cover protrusion and recess link seal 6 of the covers, which when closed line up in the approximate center of the container 1.

FIG. 22 depicts this same embodiment of the container 1 with the covers 3 fully open to either side of the container, allowing them to rest vertically on either side of the container 1 and therefore taking up minimal additional space on whatever surface (i.e. a table or counter) the container is placed on. This figure again shows the flexible connection elements 4, the protrusion perimeter sealing element of the container 2, the recess edge seal of the covers 5, and the cover to cover sealing element 6.

FIG. 23 shows a section through the container 1 in perspective view, showing the overlapping covers 3 closed, with the cover to cover protrusion and recess seal 6 in essentially the middle of the container. It also shows the flexible connection elements 4, and the perimeter recess seal of the cover 5 fitting over the protrusion perimeter seal of the container 2.

FIG. 24 shows a section of the container 1, depicting the multiple covers 3 with an overlapping cover to cover seal element 17 in the approximate center with a locking tab 19, which when pulled opens up the recess element 20 to allow the protrusion element 21 to be released. This operation is shown in more detail in FIGS. 25 a, 25 b, and 25 c. The lids also depict the raised elements 25 to create a flat plane at the top surface when closed. The container 1 shows the protrusion portion of the perimeter edge seal 2, along with the flexible connection elements 4 connecting the covers 3 to the container 1.

FIG. 25 a depicts the locking seal arrangement shown FIG. 24 as the central cover to cover sealing arrangement (noted as 17 in FIG. 24) in an expanded view with the recess portion 20 over the protrusion element 21. In this detail the geometry of the connection shows the recessed portion closing over and slightly around the protrusion portion, which when closed will resist separation. There is a tab element or elongated edge 19 which when pulled will open the recess 20 to accept the protrusion 21.

FIG. 25 b depicts the locking seal arrangement with the recess element 20 being pressed over the protrusion element 21 and widening the opening in the recess element. You can see the elongated tab element 19 being forced away from the protrusion element 21 to allow the opening in the recess element 20 to widen to the point of overlapping the protrusion element as the recess element is pressed down.

FIG. 25 c depicts the locking seal arrangement with the recess element 20 being pressed fully over the protrusion element 21, showing the opening in the recess element 20 closing over and slightly around the protrusion element 21 as the elongated tab element 19 now retracts inwards towards the protrusion element 21 in a spring type of action due to the flexible material of the recess element 20. This retraction forms a locking of the two elements in place, requiring the elongated tab 19 to be pulled out to help release the locked elements.

FIG. 26 shows three (3) separate containers in elevation view, showing their nesting capability with the covers 3 attached by living hinge elements 38. Multiple containers 1 can be stacked together with covers 3 attached and opened, utilizing a storage area only slightly larger than the containers themselves.

FIG. 27 shows a container 1 in section view, with flexible gasket elements 34 in various locations such as the cover to container edge location 12, or cover to cover location 11.

FIG. 28 shows an alternate embodiment of the covers 3 with the perimeter sealing arrangement 10 in a reversed layout. The container 1 perimeter seal is a recess 20 and the cover link/seal 21 fits within. The covers 3 are connected to the container 1 with living hinges 38. This embodiment also features at least one latching element 30, which can be pulled over an attach to a latch attachment element 31 on the opposing lid. This serves as another connection element between a plurality of covers to keep them from separating.

Operation

FIGS. 20, 21, and 22 depict the operation of the recess and protrusion elements in the closed, partially open, and open conditions. Essentially, the covers 3 are placed over the edge seals 2. One cover is pushed down first with the central protrusion element. The other cover with a recess element at the center link/seal is then pushed over the container edge 2 and the other covers protrusion element, thus overlapping and linking to the other cover. There are various configurations of the link element between the covers and the container, or between a cover and another cover that can be utilized.

FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13 depict edge seal conditions utilizing tension in the plurality of covers to create a cover to cover seal. The edge seal condition can be various configurations, such as an overlapped seal as in FIG. 13, or a protrusion and recess seal such as FIG. 11. In this arrangement, the two covers are hooked together 11, and then the edge seal (12 or 13) is pushed down around the edge of the container. This provides a tension element across the cover to cover seal 11, “pulling” the elements tightly together, providing the seal.

FIGS. 19 a, 19 b, and 19 c depict this type of operation in section and in sequence.

FIG. 19 a depicts the container 1 with one of the covers 3 partially on, and the other cover 3 open and resting to the side. The flexible connection element 4 holds the open cover 3 to the container 1.

FIG. 19 b depicts the second cover 3 hooking 11 into the first cover 3 and then pulling towards the opposing container edge 18. Here the arrow depicts the hooking motion, and then pulling the opposing cover 3 away from the other cover 3.

FIG. 19 c depicts the second cover 3 now hooked to the first cover 3 and being pressed down onto the container 1.

FIG. 26 depicts the nesting nature of a plurality of containers with the open covers attached. This nesting arrangement is suitable for either round, square/rectangular, or other shapes of containers. Because there is more than one covers, each cover be ½ or less in width as the depth of the container. This allows the covers to rest virtually alongside a single container when opened, and allows multiple containers with open covers to stack and nest within one another without needing to remove the attachment of the covers.

FIGS. 25 a, 25 b, and 25 c depict the operation of a protrusion and recess link/seal arrangement, where the recess clamps over the protrusion, thus locking them together. This features an elongated tab to pull the recess portion open to couple and de-couple it from the protrusion element. In FIG. 20 a you can see the recess link/seal element 20 curve of one cover 3 closes to an opening not big enough to fit over the protrusion seal element 21 of another cover 3. In FIG. 20 b as the recess element 20 of one cover 3 is pressed down upon the protrusion element 21 of an alternate cover 3, and the recess element 20 curve is forced to open to a larger size. The tab element 19 is pushed outward, away from the protrusion seal element 21. In FIG. 20 c as the recess seal element 20 of one cover 3 is pushed down fully, the curve closes again over the protrusion element 21of an alternate cover 3, where the tab element 19 retracts inward towards the protrusion element 21. This is now “locked” or snapped into place over the protrusion element. In order to release the recess cover element 20 the tab element 19 of this cover 3 needs to be pulled away and up from the protrusion element 21 of the alternate cover 3. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage receptacle comprising: a. a container to store and contain material, b. a plurality of covers to close the container, c. a means to connect each said cover to said container while allowing each said cover to move, d. a means to link said covers to said container, e. a means to link each said cover to another said cover, whereby said container may be closed by the covers, while it maintains a movable connection to each said cover in various positions, to ensure that said covers are not separated and potentially lost from said container which they close.
 2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the means to connect each said cover to said container is at least one hinge element.
 3. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the means to connect each said cover to said container is at least one living hinge element.
 4. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the means to connect each said cover to said container is at least one flexible member.
 5. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the means to link said container and said cover elements together is by tension forces pulling opposing elements together.
 6. The storage container of claim 5, wherein a protrusion element and a recess element prevent the plurality of said covers to pull away from each other in tension where they overlap.
 7. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the means to link said container and said cover elements together is by compression forces pushing opposing elements together.
 8. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the means to link said container and said cover elements together is by a recess element receiving a protrusion element.
 9. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the means to link said container and said cover elements together is by gasket elements.
 10. The storage container of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said containers of the same size further include geometry to enable said containers to stack within one another with said covers open.
 11. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said covers further include raised elements to form a flat resting surface for other containers to rest on top of said covers when said covers are in a closed position.
 12. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said container further includes proportions so that the depth of said container will allow the width of said covers to rest substantially alongside the container when said covers are open.
 13. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said covers utilize beveled edges to link together wherein the connection creates seam of close tolerance.
 14. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said covers further include an attachment element to temporarily attach the covers to the container sides while in the open position
 15. The storage container or claim 1, wherein the link element between the multiple said covers is above the bottom plane of said covers, such that the link element may be engaged by human fingers when said covers are closed.
 16. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the elongated recess element compresses over the elongated protrusion element such that an elongated edge is required to be manipulated to release the compression over the protrusion.
 17. A method of storing materials comprising: a. providing a container capable of storing materials, b. providing a plurality of covers capable of closing the container, c. providing movable connections between each said cover and said container which allow for each cover to move through various positions, d. providing a means to link each said cover to another said cover, e. providing a means to link each said cover to the container to close the container, whereby said process allows for storage of materials by placing materials in said container while a plurality of said covers are open, and said covers may close to link to other said covers, and each said cover may link to said container, while being connected to said container at all times with a movable connection so that covers will not be separated and lost from the container while said container is open.
 18. The method to store materials of claim 17, wherein the means to connect each said cover to said container is at least one hinge element.
 19. The method to store materials of claim 17, wherein said covers utilize beveled edges to link together wherein the connection creates seam of close tolerance.
 20. The method to store materials of claim 17, wherein said container further includes proportions so that the depth of said container will allow the width of said covers to rest substantially alongside the container when said covers are open. 